Manually formable skid chain strap applying tool



July 22, 1952 I 3. M. HOLM MANUALLY FORMABLE SKID CHAIN STRAP APPLYING TOOL Filed June 50, 1948 CA'EL A7. Hun.

Patented July 22, 1952 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE MANUALLY FORMABLE SKID CHAIN STRAP APPLYING TOOL v, a c n M. Helm, Wood-Ridge, N. J. Application, June so, 1948, Serial No. 36,087

1 The present invention relates to improvements in manually formable skid chain strap applying tool and has for an object the provision of an improved tool of this kind for greatly facilitating the proper positioning upon a tire of an automobile or the like of an emergency or anti-skid chain unit of the type which consists of one or more transverse chains and a fabric strap for securing the chain on the tire.

Another object of the present invention is the 1 Claim. (Cl. 8115.8)

provision of an improved tool of this character a I which will enable the'operator to quickly apply an emergency chain to a vehicle tire so that a great saving of time will be effected by the use of the present improved tool over those of the prior art. a

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved tool of this kind with which an emergency chain can be'applied to a vehicle tire without soiling the hands and clothing of the operator.

A-still further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved tool of this type which can be easily bent by the hands of the operator without the use of tools, to substantially conform to the curvature of the tire so that the tool can be used in connection with tires of various sizes and types of treads.

The present inventionaims to provide'an improved tool of this character which is simple to operate so that an unskilled person can quickly and easily apply an emergency chain to a tire by the use of the improved tool.

The present invention also aims to providean improved tool of this kind which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and contains no moving parts to wear out or'get out of order. I

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more fully described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, in which the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through a tire and wheel and illustrating the manner in which the improved tool is used for applying a chain thereto, 1

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the improved tool,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of another modi fled form of the invention, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the gripping means of the modification shown in Figure 4. V

Referring more particularlyto Figures land 2 of the drawings, the improved emergency chain strap former or tool comprises an integral or unitary stripformed of a soft pliable metal or other suitable substance which is bent upon itself as indicated at H] to form parallel spaced apart'legs II and I2. The space between the legs H and I2 is indicated at l3. In Figure 1 the space l3 between the legs II and I2 of the tool is shown as having received the endof a fabric strap M'of an emergency or anti-skid chain unit l5 which is adapted to be applied to'the tread portion of a tire I6. The tire I6 is mounted upon a felly l I of a wheel having a disk l8- The disk l8 has a plurality of openings or slots l9 for the reception of the tool and the fabric'strapfl.

In the use of the former or tool illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the operator will place the free end portion of the fabric strap M in the space l3 between the legs II and I2 of the tool. The operator of the device will then bend the legs H and [2, together with thefabric strap disposed therebetween, into a shape which substantially conforms to the curvature of the tread of the tire 16. Since the tool is made of a suitable pliable metal or other substance it will readily yield to this bending operation by the hands of .the operator without the use of tools to effect the bending. The material from which the former or tool is made is of such a nature however that it will retain'the form into which it has been fashioneduntil the operator changes such formation. The

bending of the former or tool substantially to the contour of the tread of the tire I5 will effectively retain the free end-portion of the fabric strap l4 within the space l3 between the legs II and 12 of the former or tool.

The operator will then grasp the open end of the tool which is remote from the bent portion [0 thereof and will move the tool from the outer side of the tire towards its inner side with the bent portion III as the leading edge of the.

anti-skid chain unit I5. The emergency or anti- I 3 skid chain is now in proper position upon the tire l6 ready for use.

It will be noted that by the use of this tool it is not necessary for the operator to get under the automobile or to place his bands around the tire when applying the anti-skid chain to the tire I6 and therefore the hand and clothing of the operator will not become,soiled.

In the rom of the invention illustrated in Figure 3 the bent portion In of the former or tool has attached thereto in any suitable manner the base 20 of a triangular shaped guide. The sides 2! and 22 of the guide are of equal lengthfand I are disposed at the same angle to the base 20" and merge into a point or tip 23. .The base 2Q of the guide is of substantially the same length a the width of the bent portion l fl of thetool" and the sides 2| and 22 diverge towards the base 20 so that the portions of the sides 21 and 22 which are adjacent the bent portion In of the tool providevavsmooth unbroken guiding surface With the bent portion. I 0. I

The manner of usingthe modified form ofthe improvedtool showniiniiFigurefi is substantially the same, .as that. described in connection with the zmodificationshown in Figures 1 and. 2. The point or. tip '23 .of the guide will facilitate the locating of the'slotjlfi in the, disk It and the sides 2! and 22 will'cooperate with the sides of the slot Hi to assistlin thehassage ofthe toolthr'ough the slot 19. The unbroken surfacesgpresented by the sides .21 =andj22fand the bent portion iii of the tool will after no resistance to the free passage of thetoolnthrough the slot l9. v

.In Figures i and. 5 which show, a. further modificatiqn, of the] invention, the .forrner or tool is formedironi a single stripofQpIiablemetaI or other suitable 'material :whichis 'bent on itself 4 bite into the fabric strap M. It will be noted that the tooth 28 has its point extending in the direction opposite to the direction of withdrawal of the strap [4 so that any tendency of the strap 14 to withdraw from between the legs 25 and 26 will cause the tooth 28 to bite more firmly into the strap to prevent its withdrawal. The manner of using the modif ed jorm o f ,tool, shown in Figures 4 =and5- is, substantially thesame a that described in connection with the tool illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

The guide member illustrated in Figure 3 may illustrated in Figures 1, 2 4 and 5.

, length to longitudinally receive the elldgfabstrap as indicatedlat 2, tpi rovide, along leg '25 and I a hort leg YZBIparalleLjto andspaced from the long leg 725,10 .providel a space 12! therebetween. The shortleg "25f has a downwardly extending struck out triangular shaped portion 28 which formsa tooth, for-biting, into the fabric strap i4 to-retain the strapwithin'the space 2'! between the legs 2'5 and126. f M v 1 In the use of the modification shown in Figures eanidjd the free endpOrtioh of the strap I4 is introduced into the, space .27 v between the. long leg 25 the short leg 25. 1 The tooth'zfi will of an emergency chain, said ,leg'sibeingcoex tensive in length and bendable upon themselves transversely of the tool to clamp theatre-p therebetween and to conformlto thecQ fig irationgof. the wheel mounted tire ver the tread surface and around the inside of which the sameis to be: passed.

. 'i-.- L M H 'LM-. nEFERENcEs crrn n' The following references areiof record in the file of this patent: V

UNITED STATES 3 PATENTS ":Date 7' Number Name 

